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May 7, 1946.

J. H. FRIDEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet l Y mwN May 7, 1946e J. H. -FRIDEN 2,399,630

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 1o sheets-sheet 2 May 7, 1946. J. H. FRIDEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 l0 Sheets-Sheet 3 1MM, MMI... IMUIMI.

klimt May 7, 1946- '.r. H. FRIDEN 2,399,630

PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 #MAM-7 /'s ATTORNEY May 7, 1946.

J. H. FRIDN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTORI May 7, 1946'. J. H. FRIDEN PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10' Sheets-Sheet 6 INVE May '7, 1946.y J. H., FRIDN 27399953@ PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheel 'T u aurons/H7 L PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 1o sheets-sheet a 513' A TTORNE May 7, 1946 J. H. FRIDEN 2,399,630

'PRIN'IING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR; I kbHJT/TVa/e PRINTING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2 1940 10 Sheets-Sheet l0 irZZ INVENTOR: A.//nrfl'/aeffz r Patented' May 7 1946 uNrrEo smrss 'esta PRINTING Mliim f John H. Faces, Manawatu, N.

Newark En gineering Company,

i., assigner to Hillsiden N. Si., a

corporation oi New iersey v Application August 2.11940, Seriai No. 349,85@

` (oi. loin-4o) 16 Claims.

- vunyielding nature of the surfaces makes it dirhcult to provide a clear and uniform printed impression upon the containers. Various schemes have been proposed heretofore for printing upon such containers but these have either been complicated, and therefore dimcult and expensive to build and operate, or they have not been effective in providingl clear-cut and uniform impressions upon the surfaces of the containers.

A primary' object of the present -invention has been to provide a simple and eective mechanism, easy to construct and operate, for printing clearly and uniformly upon various sorts of containers of the character mentioned. In dealing with small containers of the ampule type, the operation may be substantially continuous, i. e., the printing operation may be carried out while the container is shifted from one point to another by conveying means. When larger containers are being printed, it is preferable to impart a step-by-step movement to the conveying means so that the containers will be heldl temporarily at a printing station during the printing operation. Except for this possible intermittent operation of the conveying means, the apparatus may be said to operate continuously upon articles fed to it either automatically or by hand. g

' A special feature of the invention is the provision of means for retaining the containers on the conveying means at the printingv station for free rotation-and in such a manner as to avoid smearing of the printed matter applied to their surfaces. This is accomplishedv without lifting or otherwise shifting the axes of the containers.

Another feature is the provision of a relatively soft and yielding roller, formed of rubber or similar composition, for transferring the desired impression from suitable printing means to the surface of the article. In this waya uniform eifect is produced upon the article in spite of along the line Ill--Iil of Fig. '7.'

surface irregularities which so frequently occur in connection with blown glass containers.

' as to avoid smearing of the ink forming the impression applied thereto. To insure the uniform drying of the containers, the conveyor is passed at a predetermined speed through adrying chamber which is maintained at a controlled tempera:- ture. Preferably the conveyor is adapted to be driven independently of the'printing mechanism so as to avoid variation in the drying time'due to interruptions in the operation of the printer. But at the same time it is necessary to drive the printer and conveyor in synchronism and maintain them in predetermined'relation whenever the printer is in operation. Towardthis end a common drive is employed for the printer and conveyor and a special clutch is provided for disabling the drive to the printer without disturbing the drive to the conveyor.

Fig. l is an elevational view'o'flthe improved printing mechanism and an associated conveyor and dryer.,

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the printing mechanism.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the printer with the coverremoved to show the gearing for'operating the printing devices.

Fig. 4 .is a transverse section through the printer' taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is anenlarged view yin elevation partly in sectionv showing a feed cylinder or carrier and a portion of the conveyor forming part ofthe illustrative machine.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the devices shown in Fig. 5 and is taken along the line 6-6 ci F18. 5.

Fig. 'I is an enlarged detail of the printing elements-and adjustable bearing therefor.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section primarily along the line 8-'8 of Fig. 7, certain of the parts being broken away and shown in section.

Fig. 9 is an axial, elevational view of one of the sections of the printing element.

Fig. 10 is a. detail view in transverse section Fig; l1 is a front elevational view of the pedestal for the. printer, showing a portion of the printer thereon and the power means for operating the machine and including, diagrammatically in dot and dash lines, certain driving and conveying chains embodied in the construction.

Fig. 12 is a transverse sectional view along the broken line i2i2 of Fig. 11.

Fig. 13 is a detail sectional view along the axis of a clutch embodied in the driving mechanism.

Figures 13A and 13B are detail views, in perspective, of certain elements of the clutch.

Fig. 14 is an enlarged detail view showing in elevation, with parts broken away. a modiiled form of gearing for operating the printing devices.

Fig. 15 is a transverse sectional view along the line IE-i of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is a similar transverse sectional view along the line IB-IB of Fig, 14, looking in the opposite direction, as indicated by the arrows. and

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail showing in transverse section a modified conveyor cup.

lReferring now to the drawings, the illustrative apparatus includes a printing unit which is generally designated I6. This printing unit is mounted on a pedestal i1 which encloses the power means for operating the equipment, in-

cluding, in addition t0 the printing unit, a conveyor chain I8. The arrows shown on the conveyor chain indicate the direction of movement of the various courses. The conveyor chain carries the printed containers to and through a drying chamber' I9 in which the containers are subjected toa uniform and regulated drying temperature which may be maintained in any convenient way, as by the circulation of heated air or the like, preferably under the control of thermostaticdevices, not shown. After traversing a series of loops'or slings within the drying chamber, the conveyor chain passes outwardly at the opposite side. of the chamber andthenupwardly to a delivery table or unloading station 20. Here the printed and dried containers are automatically removed by dumping from the conveyor and may be suitably packed in cartons or the like by hand orby` any kappropriate automatic means.

From the delivery table the conveyor chain travels into the drying chamber upwardly along the adjacent end wall, then across the top and then downwardly along the opposite end Wall through` which itis passed outwardly at a point near the bottom andreturned to the printing unit through its supporting pedestal. The means for driving Athe vconveying chain from within the pedestalwill be hereinafter explained.

Printing unit The printing unit is carried by a main frame comprising. a vertically disposed web 2| having laterally extending anges. 22 and 23 around three sides and having similar ilanges 24 of greaterwidth at its base. A cover 24a, extending from the outer edge of fiange`22 to the outer edge of fiange'24, may be provided to enclose the driving mechanism, which will be later described.

- Near thezbottom ofthe vertical web 2| is a hollow boss 25 forming a socket to receive a reduced hub portion 26 of "a boss 21 at the lower end oi.' an auxiliary frame member 28. This auxiliary frame is adapted to rock or pivot slightly by the turning of the hub portion 26 within the boss 25.

` Near its upper elid the auxiliary frame 23 carries an integral sleeve 29 which extends through an aperture 30 in the web 2|, this aperture being of` suillcient size to permit a slight rocking or 'pivotal movement ofthe auxiliary frame, as explained. Above the sleeve 29 the auxiliary frame is formed with an ear 3| having an aperture 32, slightlyelongated in a circumferential direction, to receive a locking bolt 33 having screw-threaded engagement with the web 2 i. The bolt 33 thus surfaces deilned by the recesses 4|.

provides means for clamping the auxiliary frame in any adjusted position permitted by the construction described. To effect the desired adjustment of the auxiliary frame, it is provided with a block 34, swivelled to the frame. A screw 3B (Fig. 3), threaded in the' block 3,4 and held by a block 36 swivelled to the web 2|, may be turned by the insertion of a screw-driver in its head 31 to shift the auxiliary frame about the axis of the hub 26to the desired extent and the frame may then be clamped in its set position by the tightening of the bolt 33.

Within the sleeve 29 of the auxiliary frame there is journaled a shaft 38 (Fig. 4) to which is keyed, adjacent its righthand end,A a carrier member 39 which serves to support and convey the ampules or other articles to be printed. A clamping collar may be provided to retain the carrier upon the shaft. This construction is such that the carrier may be readily removed Whenever it is desired to replace it by another carrier adapted for larger or Ysmaller articles.

The carrier is essentially a relatively broad, disc-like member having a series of recesses or pockets 4| at spaced intervals in its periphery. Adjacent each of these recesses and on both faces of the carrier there is provided a pair of discs 42 freely rotatable upon studs 43 mounted in the carrier. These discs 42 are so arranged that their peripheries extend slightly beyond the Accordingly, these discs serve to support the ampules or other articles in such a way as to prevent contact of their surfaces with the surfaces defining the recesses 4|. The outer periphery of the carrier is of generally cylindrical form, as indicatedv at 44, but in advance of each of the recesses 4I the outer surface of the carrier is inclined inwardly substantially toward the axis of the recess, as indicated at 45. This enables the carrier readily to pick up the articles, such as ampules X, which are delivered to the machine by means of a chute 46. As the lowermost ampule is picked up by one of the recesses 4|, the next ampule will roll along the adjacent surface 44 of the carrier and then down the inclined portion 45 into the next recess which is Ibrought opposite the chute. The chute 46 may be supplied with the articles to be printed in any suitable way, either by hand or by automatic means. It is supported by means of a bracket 41 having -a split collar 43 at its lower end adapted to surround and -be clamped upon the sleeve 29 of the auxiliary frame, The arrangement is preferably such that the chute 46 will be inclined slightly from front to rear (Fig. 5), i. e., downwardly toward the web 2|, so as to cause the ampules to remain by gravity toward the rear of the chute.- 1

As best shown in Fig. 6, afdisc or plate 48 is provided between the carrier and the end of the sleeve 29, this disc being secured to the sleeve by means of a, bracket 50. The disc in turn carries an angle bracket 5| arranged to support a guide 52 vwhich extends'over the top of the carrier. Adjacent the lower end of the chute the guide 52 is curled upwardly, as indicated at 53 (Fig. 5), and at its opposite end 54 the guide extends adjacent to the printing station, to be later described. Anoth'er guide 55 (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) is provided below the printing station, this guide having an opening or cut-away portion 58 in the region over which rolls the printed matter on the ampules. Preferably the connecting portions at the ends of the o 'Il are odset radially to a slight extent so as to lie outwardly of the ascacso inner surface of the guide. It will be understood that the guide 55 serves to retain the ampules in guard against smearing of the ink. The lower guide 55 is carried by a disc 51 secured to an arm or bracket 58 carried by a stationary shaft 59 extending through the hub 28 jof the auxiliary frame and the boss 25 of th'e main frame. By shifting the bracket 58 axially of the shaft 59, adjustment may be made for ampules of different length. A set-screw 80 may be provided atthe bottom of the bracket 58 for retaining the latter in desired position on the shaft 59. At the top of the disc 51 a laterally extending support 8i is provided. This carries an adjustable bracket 82, which may be clamped in any adjustedposition by e, screw 63. 'I'he inner end of bracket 92 carries flexible spring finger 94 adapted to engage the cuter ends of the ampules to pressk them lightly aaginst the disc 49 as the ampules are carried into printing position. This insures the correct posi tioning of the ampules as they are being printed.

As the ampules with the printed impression thereon are carried beyond the lower end 65 of the guide 55, they are permitted to drop by gravity into a series of oups' or baskets vB5 carried by the conveyor chain I8, previously mentioned. These cups are freely supported by pins or rods 61 formed as extensions of theA roller supporting pivots for the links of the conveyor chain. Just beneath the carrier 39 th'e conveyor passes around a sprocket wheel 68, loosely mounted upon the previously described shaft 59. A collar 69 serves to retain the sprocket in place. Each of the cups tt is provided with a weighted bottom 18 which serves to maintain the cup in an upright position throughout its movement with th'e conveyor chain. To reduce to a, minimum the sagging of the cups due to the cantilever effect, the weighted portion of the bottom may, if desired, be concentrated near the chain, as shown at 10a in Fig. 17. At its rear or inner end each cup is provided with va trough 1l and at its outer end with a, substantially vertical wal1 12 having a shallow notch 13.

It will be understood that the conveyor chain is adapted to be driven in synchronism with the carrier 39, the arrangement being such that as an ampule is discharged from the carrier, one of the cups 66 will be directly beneath the lat-v ter to receive'the ampule. Due to the construction ofthe cup, a portion of the longl tip of the ampule will engage the depression 13 while the periphery of the bottom of the ampule will engage either the top of the pin 81 or the sl", ingwalls of the trough portion 'il ofthe cup. as a result, noneof the printed matter on the ampule will come in contact with any part of the cup and th'e danger of smearing the printed impression is eliminated.

The printing upon the ampules Yat the printing station is effected by means of a soft, resilienttransfer roller 14. This may be formed of rubber or any other composition commonly employed in -inking rolls. The entire roller may be formed of such material, if desired, although, preferably, only an outer band of appropriate thickness to provide the desired yield will be so formed. This transfer roller is carriedby a. shaft 15 and is held in place on the shaft by means of a circular nut 1B provided with Spanner wrench' openings. In 'the operation of th'e machine, the roller 14. will be driven at an appropriate speed in synchronism with the carrier 39, the construction illustrated being such that during a complete revolution of the roller 14, two of the ampules `will be presented at the printing station by the carrier. It has been found in this connection that in dealing with relatively small ampules, having a diameter of less than one-half inch, the carrier may be operated continuously and the printing operation thus performed while the ampule is being advanced by the carrier. The peripheral speed oi the roller it, as explained, will be considerably faster than that of the carrier so that the ampule at the printing station will be revolved upon the supporting discs t2 during the period of contact between the ampule and the roller. When larger ampules or containers having a diameter of morethan half an inch are dealt with, it is preferable to operate the carrier intermittently so thatv it will be held stationary while the article presented at the printing station is receiving the printing impression.

The matter transferred to the ampule by the roller 14 is received by the latter from one or more printing or impression members designated generally at 'il' in Fig. 2. In the drawings there is illustrated a pair of such printing members adapted for multi-color printing upon the ampules. Since both of the printing members and their associated inking devices are substantially the same, except for a slight difference in the arrangement of the parts, a description of one will sufilce. It will be understood, however, that where two or more printing members are employed, they will be operated in synchronism and inssuch inten-relation as to insure proper registry of the different matters to be applied to the roller, 'it and transferred to the ampules.

As best shown in Figs. 7, 8, 9 and l0, the printing member is carried by a shaft 18 and it comprises one or more discs 'i9 of partially cylindrical form. In the embodiment illustrated, two such discs are shown. This permits substitution of all, or only apart, of the matter to be printed. The matter to be printed by each disc is engraved or otherwise in intaglio in a band Sii having its ends turned inwardly for reception' by grooves or notches di in a pair of retaining and adjusting cylinders t2. These cylinders are provided with square openings 33 for the reception of an appropriate wrench to eect the clamping and adjustment of the bands. A set-screw 8d is associated with each cylinder for holding itin any adjusted position. It will be seen that by turning and setting the cylinders 82, the band -iiliV may be held tightly against the disc 19 and its position circumferentially of the disc 19 may be adjusted to a certain extent, as may be required f or proper registry.

The discs 19 are clamped tightly upon the shaft 18 by means of collars 85 and 86 forced against the opposite sides of the disc by means of nuts 81 and 88 provided with spanner wrench openings and adapted to cooperate with threaded portions of the shaft. It will be apparent that this arrangement for retaining the discs 19 enjustable screw 94 with another block 95 swivelled v on the frame 2|. By proper adjustment of the be varied to alter' the position of the printing discs 10 in relation to the transfer roller 14. In this way the pressure between the transfer roller and printing discs may be varied to produce the desired effect.

Shaft 10 is adapted to bev driven in synchronism with the transfer roller 14 but, in the construction illustrated,`is driven at double the an^ gular speed of the transfer roller. In this way two impressions are received and transferredby the roller 14 upon each revolution of the latter. The driving mechanism for accomplishing this will be subsequently described. For the purpose of driving the shaft 10, the latter is provided with a pinion 95 which is clamped in place against the sleeve 9| by means of a nut 91 arranged to be operated by a spanner wrench. On a reduced hub portion of the pinion 90, there is provided a braking device 90 which serves to eliminate the back lash in the teeth of the gearing by which the shaft is driven. This insures smoothness of operation and accuracy in the transfer of the printed matter to the ampules.

Any suitable means may be provided for supplying ink to the printing members for transference to the ampules. As best shown in Fig. 2, these means may include an ink font 99 pivotally supported at on the main frame 2| and adjustable angularly by a set-screw 0|. The ink from the font is supplied to the printing members by a series of rollers including a roller |02 at the end of the font, arranged to be'operated by a' ratchet mechanism |03 through a cam |04 secured to a shaft |05. This shaft is driven in synchronism with the other portions of the printing mechanism through connec- 'tions to' be later explained. Another cam |08, secured to the shaft |05, serves to rock an arm |01 pivotally mounted upon the frame at |00 and carrying at its outer end a roller |00. Cam is arranged to rock the roller |09 into engagement with the roller |02 as the latter is vbeing partially'rotated by the ratchet mechanism through the cam |04. Upon the return of the roller |09 into engagement with a larger roller .||0, mounted for rotation with the shaft |05, the ink delivered to the roller |09 will be transferred to the rollerA ||0 and from the latter to the printing member by an intermediate inkingroller To insure the even distribution of the ink over the surface of the roller||0, a pair of spreader rollers 2 is provided at opposite sides, these being carried by spindles ||0. Spindles '|I0, as well as the pivot |00 of the arm |01, are preferably shifted axially back and forth in the course of operation of the machine to further insure even distribution of the ink. For this purpose a large cam disc ||4 (Figs. 2 and 4) is disposed at slightly less than a right 'angle tothe shaft |05 to which it is secured. AThe pivot pin |00 and the spindles H3 are arranged to engagethe inner face of the disc- ||4 and are urged against this face by spring-operated plungers |.|5. Accordingly, upon each revolution of the disc |I4, the rollers |09 and ||2 will be shifted back and forth a limited distance across the face of the roller ||0. 1

' Driving mechanism For the purpose of driving the printing devices and the conveyor chain.. a motor ||4 may be provided within the pedestal portion `|1`of the printer. (See Figs. 11 and 12. This motor may screw 34, the position of the eccentric sleeve may cured to input shaft of a speed reducer I it. The output shaft |20 (Fig. l1) of the speed reducer carries a sprocket |2| which is preferably loose on the shaft but adapted .to'be connected therewith through a clutch. to be later described.

Sprocket |2| is connected by a chain |22 with'a sprocket |20 carried by a shaft |24 mounted Vin the main frame 2|. As best shown in Fig. vZi, the shaft |24 carries a pinion |25 which mesheswith a gear |25 secured to the shaft 15 ofthe transfer roller 14. Gear |25, in turn, meshes with the first'of a train of gears |21 which carries the power to the printing member and inking devices. The first of these gears is secured to the shaft 18 which carries the printing members. Inthe illustrated construction the ratio of the gears is such that the shaft 10 will be given two revolutions for each revolution of the shaft 15. A train of gearing |20, similar to the gearing |21, serves to drive the other shaft 10 and the other inking devices. A pinion |29, secured to the shaftv 15, meshes with a large gear |00 secured to the shaft 30 for driving the ampule carrier. In the illustrative mechanism, this gearing is such that the shaft 38 is revolved at one-third the angular speed of the shaft 15. A brake |0| (Fig. 4), similar to the brake 90, serves to apply an appropriate frictional resistance .to the rotation of the shaft 38 so as to eliminate back lash in the gearing. An appropriate tension is maintained upon the driving chain |22 by means of an idler sprocket |02 carried by a spring-operated arm, as shown in Fig. 1l.

Secured to the shaft |20 is another sprocket |30 connected by a chain |04 with a sprocket |05 secured to a shaft |36. A sprocket |01 secured to the shaft |08 is connected by a chain |03 with a sprocket |39 secured to a shaftv |40. 'I'his series of chains and sprockets serves to drive the conveyor chain, the arrangement being such that the conveyor is driven so long as the motor ||5 is in operation. Thus, even though the printer may be thrown out of operation, by the means to be later described, the articles carried by the conveyor through the drying chamber will continue their movement and will, therefore, be subjected to the same drying conditions. The speed reduction between the shaft |20 and the shaft |40, which drives the conveyor, is such that the cups 65 will be advanced at the same speed as the pockets 4| in the carrier. As best shown in Fis. ll, the conveyor chain I0, entering the pedestal' I1 adjacent the lowerend, is passed around a sprocket |4| secured to the shaft |40, and then lbeconnected byabelt H1 withapulley H0 se- 75 culty is encountered in the printer or whenthe.

supply of ampules to be printed is exhausted, a clutch |45` (Fig. 12),.is provided between the shaft |20 and the sprocket `|21, as previously mentioned. This clutchis arrangedto be operated by an arm |45 of a bell-crank whosel other arm |41 is actuated through a link|43 connected l y with 4a hand-,operated'lever |40.V By lifting' or lowering the lever |40, the clutch may be` engaged or disengaged, as desired. 'Ihe clutch may be of any suitablel constructionbutshculd be such as to insure proper synchronization of the printer with the conveyor whenever the clutch is engaged. As best-shown in Fig. 13, 'it may comprise a pin or key element i45a slidablein a passage in a hub member |2|a of the sprocket Ill. A spring |45b at the inner end of the passage urges the key element toward the left (Fig. 13) into engagement with a groove |450 in a hub member |33a which carries the sprocket |33V and is keyed for rotation with the shaft |20. The control arm |46 has a cam face Mia at its end adapted to cooperate with a cam face |45d enter the groove |45c in the latter. is interrupted at one point by a stud Nte which engages and 'drives the key |4541 and its sprocket when the key4 is in the groove. When it is desired to disengage the clutch, the arm |46 is shifted back to the Fig. l1 position in which the cam surface MSc is carried into the path of the ksurface l45d on the pin so that the latter is Withdrawn from the groove |45c and the pin is car- 'ried by the momentum of the 'sprocket |2| into the position indicated in Fig. 13. As will be seen, the construction is such that the 'sprockets |2| and itt will be connected for rotation in unison only when they are in a definite relation.

To facilitate 4the making of adjustments for the purposeof bringing vabout proper registry of the printed matter, a hand-wheel itl) is secured to the shaft. itt so that the various parts of the printer may be operated by hand during the adjusting operations. It will, of course, be desirable to disengage the clutch Mt at this time so that the conveyor chain and the driving connections from the motor need not be driven in the hand operation of the printer.

In Figs, ld, 15 and 16 a modified form of driving mechanism is illustrated, in which the carrier t@ is rotated intermittently rather than continuously. For this purpose an extra gear |5I is provided on the shaft Ht, this being secured, as indicated in Fig. 15, to the sprocket |23. Gear iti meshes with another gear l5@ secured to a sleeve |53 surrounding an extension of the shaft tated at an appropriate speed of, say, 15 R. P. M.

`the pin toward the hub i331: and will cause it to Groove |450 and as each of the pockets 4| passes the lower end of the chute, it will receive one of the ampules. A series of ampules will thus be fed, successively, to and through the printing position, in which they are engaged b y the transfer roller 'i4 and receive the ink, constituting the matter to be printed, which has been previously applied to this roller by the printing member or members ll. In the primary embodiment illustrated, the peripheral speed of the transfer roller 'I4 will be three times that of the carrier and hence the ampules will be rotated upon their supporting discs 42, by the frictional driving action of the rolls, as they pass through the printing zone. If the modiiied construction of Figs. 14 to 16' is employed, the carrier 39 will, as explained, be shifted intermittently, while a blank or clean portion of the transferwheel is presented toward the carrier, and the ampule will be held at the printing station during the period in which the ink is being transferred to it from the roller ld. The ampule will, of course, be rotated upon its sup'- portlng discs 42 in the course of this transfer.

After the ampules have been printed upon, they are still held in the recesses 4i by means of the guide 55, which is so cut away as to insure against smearing of the printed impression on the am- 'pulea As the ampules reach the lower end t5 of the guide, they drop by gravity into the cups tt of the endless 'conveyor and are carried to and through the drying chamber and to the delivery or packing station 2li.

To insure proper pressure between the printing members il and the transfer roller i4, as well as between the latter and the ampuies, appropriate adjustments should be made before the machine is set in operation. Thus, the screws @d should be adjusted to shift the eccentric sleeves 9i to the positions best suited for the transferof clear impressions from. the printing members l@ to the roller it.. Proper registry of the printed matter, as between thetwo or more printing and inking units employed, may be effected by shifting the printing elements so circumrerentiauy with respect tothe discs 19 by appropriate rotation of the cylinders 82. The character of the impression transferred from the roller 'i4 to the ampules may be regulated by adjustment of the screw 35 which controls the shifting of the auxiliary frame 28. To facilitate the making of the various adjustments, the lever 4,49 is preferably shifted to Geneva locking action in conjunction with the scalloped portions of the wheel |56. The ratio of the gearing is such that for each revolution of the shaft |24, the shaft 38 will be turned through 60",' thus presenting a new ampule or bottle to the printing station. The timing is such that the shifting of the carrier will take place while a blank or clean portion of the transfer wheel 14 is disengage the clutchy |45 and thus allow manual operation of the printing unit independently of they conveyor and themotor. The lever V|49 may similarly be shifted to disconnect the printing unit whenever dimculty is encountered in its operation or when the supply of ampules in the chute 48 has been exhausted. The conveyor I8 will at such times continue its operation so as to complete the uniform drying of all of the ampules.

presented opposite the carrier. 'I'he remaining parts of the modified gearing, for the purpose of driving the transfer roller and the various inking devices,` may be substantially the same as the corresponding parts of the gearing shown in Fig. 3.

Summary of operation In the operation of the machine the ampules "X will be supplied either by hand or `automatically to the chute 46. Assuming that the motor has been set in operation, and the lever While an illustrative machine embodying the various features of the present `invention and certain modifications have been disclosed in considerable detail, it will be understood that numerous other changes may be made in the construction and arrangement vof the various parts without departing from the general principles and scope of the invention. The terms and expressions used herein have been used as terms of description and not of limitation.

What I claim is:

1. In an apparatus of the class described a |49 has been shifted to the position in `which the 75 rotatable carrier adapted to retain rotatable articles to be printed. said carrier having a xed axis of rotation, means for driving said carrier continuously at a relatively low speed, means on said carrier for supporting a plurality of the articles for rotation about axes xed relative to the carrier at a of the carrier, a printing rotor having a fixed axis spaced from the axis of said carrier, and a continuously operating higher speed drive for said rotor, said rotor having a cylindrical yieldable printing surface, the continuous travel of the articles causing them to engage and indent the cylindrical yieldable printing surface during` .said printing and delivering means with said driving means in a particular relative position, there-v by automatically bringing and maintaining said n conveyor and said printing and delivering means in predetermined relation as they are driven.

3. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable articie carrier, means for delivering articles to said carrier, means for rotating said carrier, means for printing upon the articles while on said carrier, conveying means arranged to receive articles from said carrier, common means for driving said carrier and conveying means in predetermined relation and for operating said printing means, and a clutch operable. at will for disconnecting said printing means and said carrier from said driving'means independently of said conveyor, said clutch being of the single revolution type and serving upon reconnection under manual control to automatically synchronize said printing means and carrier with said conveyor.

4. In apparatus of the class described a rotat'- able article carrier, means for delivering articles to said carrier, means for rotating said carrier, means for printing upon the articles while on said carrier, conveying means arranged to receive arclutch being engageable only when they are in a v single, predetermined relative position, and means operable at will for controlling the engagement and disengagement of said clutch while the drivxed radial distance from the axis'v ing means is in operation. t A

6. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable carrier for articles of circular cross-section. means on said carrier for supporting said articles for free rotation relative'to the carrier, a cylinder having a resilient yielding surface extending com- Ipietely around the circumference thereof and arranged to engage said articles and rotate the same on said carrier, said cylinder simultaneously imparting an offset printing impression to said arable vcarrier; said carrier having recesses in the' periphery thereof for the reception of articles of f circular cross section, a plurality of thin edged discs spaced circumferentially and axially of said j carrier adjacent each of said recesses for engaging said articles at points spaced circumferentially and longitudinally thereof and supporting saidl articles free and clear of the Walls of said recesses, means for rotating said carrier, means having a yielding resilient surface adapted to frictionally engage said articles and rotate the same on said discs as the articles are brought to a predetermined position by said carrier, and

ing said carrier and conveying means in predetermined relation and for operating said printing means, said conveying means being connected in definite relation to said common. driving means, and a clutch for disconnecting said printing means and said carrier from said driving means independently of said conveying means, said clutch being constructed and arranged to connect said carrier with said driving means only in particular relation and when said carrier and conveying means are in predetermined relation.

5. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable article carrier, means for delivering articles to said carrier, means for rotating said carrier, means for printing upon the articles while on said carrier, conveying means arranged to receive articles from said carrier, common means for driving said carrier and conveying means in predetermined relation and for operating said printing means, a` clutch for disconnecting said carrier from said driving meansindependently of said means associated with said last recited means enabling the latter to print upon said articles as they are rotated.

8. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable carrier, said carrier having recesses in the periphery thereof for the reception of articles of circular cross se'ction, discs adjacent each of said recesses and disposed in predetermined relation thereto at opposite sides of the carrier for supporting said articles free and clear of the walls of said recesses, a support for said carrier angularly adjustable about a iixed pivot, means for angularly adjusting said support about said pivot and retaining the same in adjusted position, means for rotating said carrier, and impression means adapted to frictionally engage said articles and rotate the same on said discs as the articles are brought to a predetermined position by said carrier, the angular adjustment of said support being arranged to vary the frictional engagement between said means and articles.

9. In apparatus of the class described a rotate able carrier, said carrier having recesses in the periphery thereof for the reception of articles of circular cross section, discs adjacent and disposed in definite relation to each of said recesses at opposite sides of said carrier for supporting said articles free and clear of the walls of said recesses, means for rotating said carrier, means for supplying articles to the successive recesses by gravity as the carrier is rotated, a rockable frame for supporting said carrier and said article supplying means, a soft yielda'ble impression roller adjacent said carrier arranged to engage said articles'and rotate the same on said discs, said roller being adapted to transfer printing impressions to said articles, printing means for applying printing impressions to said roller. said roller being mounted on a fixed shaft, and means for adjusting said carrier and printing means toward and from said roller, said adjusting means serving to rock said frame and thereby simultaneously adjusting said article supplying means.

l0. In apparatus of the class described a rotatable carrier, pockets in the periphery thereof for articles of circular cross-section, discs mounted on said carrier at the opposite sides thereof ior rotatably supporting the articles in each of said in a predetermined position free and clear of the walls thereof, means for rotating said carrier simultaneously, an impression roller adjacent said carrier having an article engaging around said roller and arranged to be rictionally engaged by arti.

' cles on said carrier as the latter is rotated, and

are frictionaliy engaged by the roller. 

